PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. â A group of curious and creative 10-year-olds is spending the summer building robots, learning to code, and discovering new passions at a hands-on STEM camp in Prince William County.
Held this at Mullen Elementary School near Manassas, the First LEGO League Camp gives rising fourth and fifth-graders a chance to build and program robots while learning valuable skills like teamwork, problem-solving, and perseverance.
âWeâve already seen so many of these kids say, âHey, Iâm really good at this,ââ said Ryan Goetz, a counselor at the camp. âThey really like the hands-on part of it. They can interact with the robots, interact with the mechanisms, and learn things like physics and coding along the way.â
The five-week camp is a pilot program that accommodates 30 students per week. Each week is held at a different elementary school, allowing students across the county to participate. We spoke with campers in week three, while later camps were scheduled to be held at Bristow Run Elementary, followed by John Jenkins Elementary in Dale City.
Students rotate through four activity stations:
-
Innovation Station, where they invent a product designed to help others.
-
Robot Challenge Station, featuring official First LEGO League missions that test robot attachments and movement.
-
Design Station, where campers build custom add-ons for their robot base.
-
Coding Station, where they program robots to complete tasks like navigating a maze.
Mae and Cucil, both 10 years old and entering fifth grade at Buckland Mills Elementary School, said the most challenging part is when the coding app glitches. âWeâd press the button, and itâd just do its own thing,â said Mae. Their fix? Restart the app or turn the robot off and on again.
Despite the occasional tech hiccup, both girls said they want to keep working with robots when they grow up. âBecause theyâre fun,â said Cucil.
According to Goetz, thatâs exactly the point. âYou canât learn everything from a textbook. These kids are learning real skillsâcoding, critical thinkingâand gaining confidence in themselves.”
Organizers hope to expand the camp next year, offering more seats to meet growing interest. For now, a waitlist is in place as word spreads about the programâs engaging approach to STEM education.
View this post on Instagram
Recent Stories
A Luray-based painter with more than 30 years of experience will close out his solo exhibition with an in-person artist talk in Old Town Manassas.
A new bill from Senator Tim Kaine and Congressman Eugene Vindman aims to restore federal funding cut earlier this year from a program that supported high school students with disabilities in Spotsylvania County and across the country.
Stafford County’s primary fire boat is back in the water and ready to respond after a crash earlier this summer temporarily sidelined the vessel.
Boaters across Prince William County saw an increased law enforcement presence on local waterways over the Fourth of July weekend as the Police Departmentâs Marine Unit took part in âOperation Dry Water,â a national effort to reduce boating under the influence and promote safe water recreation.
The ArtsFairfax Events Calendar is your destination for all arts and culture activities in Northern Virginia. Find a concert, play, poetry reading, or exhibition in your neighborhood—many events are free and family-friendly!
Are you part of a performing arts group, school, or cultural organization? You can add your events and classes, too. The ArtsFairfax Events Calendar is free and easy to use.
Your attendance at local arts events supports small businesses in our community and the art makers who help make Fairfax and its surrounding region so vibrant. With the ArtsFairfax Events Calendar, you can stay curious and stay local to plan your next arts adventure!
Go Ape, Americaâs leading aerial adventure park provider, is proud to unveil a revitalized experience across its iconic Zipline & Adventure Parks. This refresh goes beyond physical upgrades; it reflects a renewed mission to foster meaningful connections between people, nature, and self.
âGo Ape has always been about thrilling treetop adventures,â says Chrissy Very, Senior Director of Marketing. âNow, weâre redefining what it means to truly connect: through purpose-driven outdoor experiences that inspire courage, reflection, and joy.â
As access to public outdoor spaces becomes more limited, Go Ape steps in to bridge the gap with immersive, inclusive, and wellness-focused adventures for individuals, families, and groups.
Christmas in July
Volunteer Prince William will be holding a fun-filled Christmas in July event at Heritage Brewing Co on July 26th from 12pm until 6pm with all proceeds going to support the 2025 Untrim-A-Tree and Senior Basket Program. Untrim-A-Tree and Senior Basket
Your Weight Matters National Convention
Hosted by the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) since 2012, this highly-anticipated gathering is the nation’s leading gathering focused on empowering individuals with science-based education, support and practical tools for managing weight and improving health.
This unique Convention truly has something
